In Their Own Words

October 24, 1739

Farming DIfficulties and Hopes Recorded in Journal

This day’s entry in the journal of William Stephens showed the difficulty of farming in colonial Georgia, yet also his determination to make it work:

“…I devoted this Day almost wholly to look into what my
People were doing abroad, and what Product was to be
seen off the Land that I had planted this Year, which
now was pretty near got together: And what I before
had observed, relating to the uncommon wet Summer we
had, (vide Sept. 21.) appeared now too well verified; for
all the low Lands had suffered extreamly; among which,
those Lots happened which I occupied, and Abundance
of the Corn was utterly spoiled, partly by the Stalks rotting ere it came to Maturity; and most of that which
ripened, was infested with the Worm, that did great
Damage; whilst the dry Lands threw out a plentiful
Crop: Nevertheless, communibus annis the Summer Heats
here are such, that I would, in my own Judgment, always prefer the low Lands to the high; and though it October
happened that they failed this Year, through such excessive Wet, yet most undoubtedly they are less apt to
do so than the other. The General having lately confirmed the Grant of five hundred Acres, which he partly
put me in Possession of on the 19th of April last, at
the Mouth of Vernon River it was now my Desire, with all convenient Speed, to set some Hands at
Work there, and make what Improvements I could, as
the Season was proper; taking Care at the same Time,
that those Lots I had been cultivating for two Years
past, should be occupied; so that what Labour had been
bestowed, should not be thrown away…”